Time Rift.
Jiangnan clutched the newly formed [Mountains and Rivers State Map], attempting to invoke the laws governing the Mountains and Rivers in the Palm its grasp.
First, preserve Mo Wan's crumbling soul by taking it into his possession.
However, there was no response.
This Divine Grade Spirit Artifact is trembling at the moment, and the seven-colored light on its surface is unstable.
It doesn't belong to Jiangnan yet; the internal struggle for control of the artifact spirit is raging.
It's in complete chaos.
"We can only go to the end."
Jiangnan gritted his teeth and wasted no more time.
Following Jiang Li's previous instructions, he directly raised his hand and summoned the Reverse-Flow River.
Watching Jiangnan resolutely step into the River of Time.
Jiang Li stood still, pursing her lips, until the spatial rift closed.
He managed to utter a word in a voice only he could hear.
"I'm sorry, Dad."
"From now on, it's up to you."
Jiang Li lowered her head, and two clear tears flowed down her cheeks.
"Whether it's you or Him who ultimately emerges alive..."
"I will go with you all."
The River of Time.
This marks the first time in Jiangnan that it has truly and officially stepped into the Reverse-Flow River.
As soon as he entered, he keenly sensed that a ray of light was shining on him from the depths at the end of the long river.
Under the sweep of that light, all the extraordinary power within him was stripped away!
The only thing left is that which doesn't belong to this world's Supernatural Ability system...
Word Spirit System.
"It's Him..."
Jiangnan, braving the turbulent current, gazes straight at the light at the end.
And in his dark pupils, another version of himself was clearly reflected.
It was a figure with a full head of white hair, wearing tattered Dragon Armor.
His face was devoid of any emotion, displaying only divinity.
Most notably, His right arm was severed at the root, leaving it empty, with only His left arm remaining.
That is...
The future Dragon God.
He did not wait at the end, but instead took the initiative to spread his tattered dragon wings.
Flying upstream, it reached the south of the Jiangnan and landed on the gray-white riverbed.
"I've finally arrived."
The Dragon God looked down upon Jiangnan from his high vantage point, his voice ethereal.
Jiangnan looked up slightly at her true self, her eyes sharp.
"I?"
Are you referring to Jiangnan? Or the Dragon God?
Jiangnan clenched his fist, his tone questioning, "Or perhaps..."
"The fourth-stage Executor, Zhong Kui?"
Faced with this pointed question, the Dragon God did not give a direct answer.
He simply met Jiangnan's gaze.
"It seems you've figured some things out."
However, the answer is not that simple.
The Dragon God paced slowly, his tone calm.
"I am not the god you imagine."
"Everything I've done, my thousand-year-long devotion in this long river..."
"From beginning to end, there was only one purpose."
"I am... just like you."
I don't like riddles, just tell me the answer.
Jiangnan's gaze sharpened, fixing on the Dragon God, "The Word Spirit System, it's related to you, isn't it?"
The Dragon God stopped and shook his head.
"The answer is something you have to find for yourself."
"If you want it... come and get it yourself."
"I understand your personality; you know what to do next."
He slowly raised his only remaining left hand and pointed to Jiangnan.
"But before that, you should return what I lent you."
The words had barely left his mouth.
"Sizzle!"
Jiangnan felt a sharp pain in his right shoulder.
The [Hand of the Sun] instantly detached from his body and flew back into the Dragon God's hand!
"It seems you have indeed been to the mortal world."
"These two items were also given to me by Shadow others, at your request."
Jiangnan was not surprised at all by losing an arm.
He didn't even frown; he simply gripped the Three-Point Double-Edged Spear tightly with one hand.
"That's right, just an unexpected farce."
The Dragon God casually placed the [Hand of the Sun] on the cut of his severed right arm.
Flesh and blood wriggled and connected; He moved the arm He had regained and spoke softly.
"Ying Liyi did not follow the original plan."
"She took it upon herself to give items to the younger generation of humans, and forcibly summoned her true form to the mortal world."
"However... this does add some interest to the tedious thousand-year wait."
The Dragon God's gaze moved upwards and landed on Jiangnan's tightly closed eye on his forehead.
"Is that eye working properly?"
"Not bad."
Jiangnan replied coldly, then pointed his gun at the Dragon God with one hand, "But this... you can't take it."
"Indeed."
The Dragon God nodded, not denying it, "After I dealt with that Scarecrow..."
"The marks left behind have already undergone irreversible changes."
"It is no longer [Watcher Eye]."
"But it's alright, we won't need it in the battle ahead."
"What do you mean? You want to kill me?"
Jiangnan frowned.
"It seems Ying Liyi didn't tell you everything."
As the Dragon God spoke, he clenched his right hand in the air, and a long spear suddenly appeared.
"That does fit her seemingly decisive, but actually indecisive, personality."
The Dragon God raised his spear, and for the first time, a murderous intent appeared on his face, which was exactly the same as Jiangnan's.
"After all..."
"A weapon of war possessing only memories, and a savior on a blank slate possessing only emotions."
"It's really hard to choose between us."
"Since she has chosen fairness, then I will not take advantage of you."
The Dragon God unleashed its divine power, causing the surrounding Reverse-Flow River to churn violently!
"From now on!"
"Jiangnan, give it your all!"
"Kill me before I kill you!"
"Only one of us will survive and make it out of this river!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Dragon God brandished his spear and thrust it straight forward!
At the same time.
A thousand years ago, in the Kindling Flame Realm, at the entrance of the Dragon City Prison.
"Get out! You're released!"
With a furious shout, the cell door opened.
As teenagers, Jiangnan and Zhang Lingqi were thrown out by the Jailer and landed on the dusty steps.
"Cough cough..."
Zhang Lingqi rubbed his aching shoulders and got up, quickly turning to ask the Jailer.
"Big brother, what about them? What about the woman and man who came in with us?"
Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask!
The Jailer, his brow furrowed, drew his sword. "This is His Majesty's decree!"
"If you don't get out of here, I'll chop you all up right now!"
With that, he threw the long spear from Jiangnan on the ground, "Take your junk and get out of here!"
"No, no, no! We're leaving now! We're leaving now!"
Zhang Lingqi quickly waved his hand and smiled apologetically, then hurried over to pick up the spear from the ground.
He helped the badly injured Jiangnan to his feet and limped away from the prison.
Recalling the battle at the Dragon Emperor Palace, Zhang Lingqi still felt lingering fear.
Jiangnan's injuries were quite severe.
In terms of martial arts skills, he was almost completely overwhelmed by Duanlang.
"Old ginger is spicier."
This is the first time I've seen him get the short end of the stick.
Zhang Lingqi mentally complained.
"Take me back to the thatched hut outside the city walls."
Jiangnan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his voice weak, "I must go and defend the city; it is my duty."
"You're injured like this, why are you still defending the city? Shouldn't you go to the infirmary first?"
Zhang Lingqi's eyes widened.
"Need not."
Jiangnan Nan replied expressionlessly, "I'll recover quickly."
Zhang Lingqi was taken aback for a moment, then thought about it carefully and realized it made sense.
This kid has Dragon Clan blood flowing through his veins.
The Dragon Clan's abnormal metabolism and self-healing abilities are indeed unmatched by ordinary people.
"Hey, speaking of which..."
Zhang Lingqi helped him up while asking him questions out of curiosity.
"You're clearly a pure-blooded human, so why do you have Dragon Blood in your veins?"
Jiangnan didn't hide anything, because even he himself thought the matter was outrageous.
"Three years ago, I was ambushed in the middle of nowhere while chasing down a group of bandits."
"I almost died there; I was forced to jump off a cliff to escape."
Jiangnan frowned. "When I woke up again, I discovered that I inexplicably possessed the Dragon Bloodline."
"And..."
"The moment I opened my eyes, I saw Ying Liyi dragging me along by the leg, insisting on calling me 'Dad'."
At this point, Jiangnan's face darkened.
"If only I had known she was actually so much older than me."
"Even if I starved to death in a ravine, I would never have agreed to adopt her."
After hearing these words, Zhang Lingqi nodded vigorously on the surface.
In reality, he harbored envy, Envy, and hatred.
"He survived a fall off a cliff, gained the bloodline of a divine beast, and even got a legally submissive loli who practically threw herself at him..."
"Isn't this just the most standard plot for a male protagonist in a wish-fulfillment novel?!"
Zhang Lingqi cried out in his heart, filled with grief and indignation.
"Why did I steal..."
"Oh no, when you're doing archaeological digging, have you ever encountered any 'Loulan princess' or similar women who practically throw themselves at you?"
"All they dug up was a mummy, a burly man named Du Linyuan who was picking his toes!"
"Comparison is the thief of joy!"
"Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore."
"Let's find a place to settle down first and wait and see when Du Linyuan will be released."
"He's a prince, after all; it's probably just a formality..."
Zhang Lingqi muttered to himself, then suddenly stopped.
Pupil dilation!
"No... that's not right!"
Zhang Lingqi's hair stood on end.
In his present-day memories, Du Linyuan was not a high-ranking prince at all!
It was he and Captain Lin Bayi who dug Du Linyuan out of the soil!
Moreover, the entire record contains absolutely no information about Du Linyuan, a member of the royal family!
"Doesn't that mean..."
"He won't be released at all, but will instead be..."
At the same time.
Inside the deepest hall of the Dragon Emperor Palace.
On the dragon throne.
Ying Jiuchuan was stroking the magnificent red robe in his hand.
That was the [Ghost Emperor Robe] left behind by the Dragon Clan's ancestor.
"Now is the perfect time to use it..."
Someone has to stay in the future.
He murmured softly.
"His Majesty."
A close attendant eunuch stepped forward and knelt down. "Her Highness the Princess and... His Highness the Prince have been brought here."
"Okay, you can go now."
Ying Jiuchuan gave him an approving look.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The head guard breathed a long sigh of relief, secretly glad that he hadn't addressed him by his first name to avoid suspicion.
It seems the emperor still harbors some complex feelings towards this illegitimate son.
The guards withdrew, and the heavy door slammed shut.
The entire empty Dragon Emperor Palace was now empty except for the three of them.
Despite having shackles on her hands and feet, Ying Liyi still pointed at Ying Jiuchuan and cursed him.
Hey! Old Deng! Get out of my way if you know what's good for you!
Stop pretending and causing trouble up there! I'd rather my father have the throne than let you have it!
The Ying Jiuchuan's forehead bulged, his Wrath burning.
"I'm your father! Look at the state you're in now!"
"That Jiangnan is only sixteen years old! How old are you? You keep calling him 'Dad' every day, aren't you ashamed?!"
"Pooh!"
Ying Liyi smirked, "So you still remember you're my father?"
"All these years, you old fool, you didn't even bother to come looking for me. You lost your daughter and you still have the nerve to complain?"
"You dare say I'm not ashamed!"
"Compared to your thick-skinned face, I utterly admit defeat!"
"Next time, I won't acknowledge my father anymore; I'll just go to the outer city and acknowledge a few more grandfathers!"
"May the whole world call you 'Good Son'! Hehehe!"
"You... you unfilial daughter!"
Ying Jiuchuan was so angry that he suddenly stood up, almost spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Beside Ying Liyi, Du Linyuan, who was also in shackles, simply lowered his head and remained silent.
Indeed, this is what true family is like.
And I, from beginning to end, was just a superfluous outsider.
Just then...
"Whoosh!"
Ying Jiuchuan's figure disappeared from the dragon throne, and the next second, he appeared in front of Ying Liyi.
He grabbed her wrist.
"What are you doing, Old Deng! Let go! Or I'll report you for child abuse!"
Ying Liyi was startled and struggled desperately.
"You're nothing but a child! You're more like a middle-aged single woman pretending to be young!"
Ying Jiuchuan snorted coldly, completely ignoring her resistance.
With a single flick of his hand, he forcibly draped the [Ghost Emperor Robe] over Ying Liyi's body!
The moment the Ghost Emperor Robe touched Ying Liyi's body, it immediately transformed into a phoenix coronet and embroidered wedding gown in the blink of an eye!
But...
When Ying Jiuchuan looked closely at the red light flowing on the clothes...
But his pupils were no longer calm!
There were even flaws mixed in with that red light!
"No... that's not right!"
Ying Jiuchuan a panic; he appeared flustered and completely lost his Emperor dignity.
Ignoring Ying Liyi's curses, he grabbed her finger and slashed her fingertip.
He forcibly forced out a drop of blood essence containing the dragon's might, which hovered in mid-air.
99.9%!
Ying Jiuchuan's face turned deathly pale as he looked at the purity feedback of the drop of blood essence.
"Why is it 0.1% less?!"
He raised his head, his eyes bloodshot.
"What have you done?! Ying Liyi! Answer me!"
"You should be 100% the strongest pureblood! What did you do?!"
Ying Liyi was terrified.
This was the first time in her memory that she had seen the old man with such a terrible and desperate expression.
She shrank back, no longer daring to talk back, and could only answer obediently in a low voice.
"When I found my father at the bottom of the cliff years ago, he was dying..."
"I... I did this to save him..."
"So I fed him that drop of essence blood..."